Head-to-head comparison
Los Angeles Mission College vs Academy of Art University: which has better ROI?
Option A Sylmar, CA
Los Angeles Mission College
- Net price / year
- $13,380
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,834
- Payback
- No payback
Option B San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art University
- Net price / year
- $40,613
- Earnings, 10 years
- $39,008
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Los Angeles Mission College comes closer — median earnings $39,834 against a $26,760 total, vs $39,008 at Academy of Art University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Los Angeles Mission College | Academy of Art University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,380 | $40,613 |
| Total net cost | $26,760 | $162,452 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $39,834 | $39,008 |
| Median debt | $12,678 | $31,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$197,280 | -$349,492 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Los Angeles Mission College or Academy of Art University?
Los Angeles Mission College, at $13,380 a year after aid versus $40,613 — a gap of $27,233 a year, or $135,692 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Los Angeles Mission College or Academy of Art University graduates earn more?
Los Angeles Mission College graduates report a median $39,834 ten years after entry, $826 more than the $39,008 at Academy of Art University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Los Angeles Mission College or Academy of Art University?
Los Angeles Mission College: its completers carry a median $12,678 in federal loans versus $31,000 at Academy of Art University, a difference of $18,322. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
34% of students finish at Academy of Art University, against 20% at Los Angeles Mission College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.